Lindsey Vonn has proven that age is just a number. At 40, she became the oldest woman to ever step on the podium at an alpine World Cup event, securing silver in the Super-G at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup finals in Idaho on March 23. This marked her first medal in 2,565 days, since her last podium finish at a similar event.
Fans were left in awe, especially given her recent knee replacement. One admirer wrote on Instagram, “I honestly didn’t believe this could be possible at 40 following a knee replacement. This must go down as one of the greatest sporting achievements ever.”
The previous record belonged to Austria’s Alexandra Meissnitzer, who medaled at 34 years and nine months back in 2008.
Already a three-time Olympic medalist, Vonn returned from a six-year retirement earlier this year with a titanium knee and an ambitious goal—to qualify for the 2026 Olympics before finally hanging up her skis. After her race, she told The Guardian, “It’s been a rough season of people saying that I can’t, that I’m too old, that I’m not good enough anymore. I think I proved everyone wrong.”
Vonn admitted the journey hasn’t been easy: “As much as I love skiing, it’s been a hard road. I just continue to prove that anything is possible. I’ve been knocked down so many times—personally, physically, mentally—but I always pick myself back up.”
Despite her remarkable comeback, some critics still insist she should quit. Speaking to NBC Sports, she revealed, “People are telling me that I should just quit—again.” But as Vonn’s latest achievement shows, she’s not listening.
